The New Jerusalem

Saturday 2 December
READ: Rev. 21: 10 - 21   
MORE LESSON:  John 14: 2 -3

The Bible shows us a beautiful picture of the City where we will be for eternity. The Lord has prepared for us a city which shines with the glory of God. It has no earthly comparison in beauty. The highest splendor and beauty on earth is not worthy to be mentioned near the dust of the magnificent New Jerusalem, where we will spend eternity. The gates and foundations of this City are made of precious stones and the streets are made of pure gold.  Each house in this City is a mansion of unparalleled delight. 

When we keep our hearts on the joy that awaits us in the New Jerusalem, we will treat all the challenges of this present world with levity. Rom 8: 18 says, For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. No matter what you have to endure in this present world, make sure you do not compromise your place in the New Jerusalem. All tears will be wiped away and no longer will there be any hardship. This world is not all there is to life; don't pursue the world at the expense of your eternity. Live this life with your eyes on the prize of the New Jerusalem. Jesus said in John 14:2 that He has gone to prepare a place for us. The New Jerusalem is the place He has gone to prepare; you must not miss it. There is a warning about the New Jerusalem given in Rev 21:27; Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. 

Another lesson that needs to be drawn when  we look at the glory of the New  Jerusalem is that our God is a God of glory, magnificence and splendor. The New Jerusalem is not a city of huts but magnificent mansions.  Gold, which is a highly valued commodity, is used by God to tar the streets of the Heavenly Jerusalem. Several kinds of precious stones and pearls are used for the gates, the foundations and different parts in the city. This shows us that God is not a God of poverty. He is a God of glory, beauty and wealth.

Therefore, our sole pursuit in life is the glory of God and to make the Heavenly Jerusalem. However, while we are still on earth, we must reflect the nature of the God who we are serving and has prepared the New Jerusalem for us.  His nature, as shown by the City He has made for us, is wealth, glory,  abundance, success and greatness. So while you await the New Jerusalem, which will come down from Heaven, you must reflect the New Jerusalem on the earth. 

Prayer/Action
* Give God thanks for where He has prepared for you.
* Pray that nothing will rob you of your eternity in heaven.
* Pray for the salvation of family members who have not been saved.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
I prophesy better is the end of this year, starting from today, than the beginning thereof, in the name of Jesus.

Departed Grace

Thursday 30 November
READ: Judg. 16: 1 - 20   
MORE LESSON:  Heb. 12: 15 – 17

The grace of God must never be taken for granted to make men live in wilful sin. The love of God is unconditional and the grace of God is unmerited but there is a part that every man needs to play to stay within the confines of God's grace. Heb.12:15 makes it clear that a man that has received grace can fall short of grace when he allows defilement, Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. This is the reason Eccl. 9: 8 instructs, Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. The ointment of oil stands for the anointing and grace of God in your life. For your head not to lack oil, your garments must always remain white. Holiness preserves grace and sin destroys it.
Samson was a man of unusual grace. His birth was prophesied during an angelic visit and the Spirit of the Lord came occasionally upon him to do exploits. He was a Nazarite from his mother's womb and single-handedly destroyed armies of the enemy and slayed lions. However, as he became increasingly famous and powerful, he began to entertain sin in his life. He began to go after strange women; he even slept with a harlot. When the Philistines came to ambush him by locking the gate of the city where he was so that he wouldn't escape, he woke up, shook himself, carried the gate, beams and lock all the way to his country.

The grace of God still worked for him so he thought that he could continue in sin and grace would abound (Rom. 6: 1). This led him to begin another affair with a woman of Philistine called Delilah. Delilah enticed him till he told her the secret of God's grace on his life. The woman made sure she reduced the grace on his life to nothing before she handed him over to his enemies. When the Philistines came to take him, the Bible says that he woke up from sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him: Judg. 16:20. The grace had departed! The power was gone; he had lost it to sin.

This is why every child of God must not be deceived by any message that makes him think that he can live a reckless life and God's grace will continue to abound. Saul was equally anointed with the Spirit of the Lord and he even prophesied (1 Sam. 10: 10) but when he started living in rebellion, the Spirit of God departed from him and an evil spirit came to torment him (1 Sam. 16: 14). God's grace will not depart from your life, in Jesus' name. But remember, ...let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall: 1 Cor. 10:12.

Prayer/Action
* I pray against the forces of Ichabod in my life and destiny, in Jesus’ name.
* I declare that whatever causes grace to depart from a man shall not be your portion, in the name of Jesus.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, I lift up my two hands and I declare that November will not leave me without a witness and evidence even at this eleventh hour; thank You Lord for November, in the name of Jesus.

Sow Now, Reap Later

Wednesday 29 November
READ: Psa. 126: 5 - 6    
MORE LESSON:  Lam. 3: 27

For every price in life there is a prize. It is wisdom to pay the price now so that you can obtain the prize tomorrow. If you need to sweat now so that you will not cry tomorrow, then it is good to sweat. A lot of people are looking for comfort too soon. A young person is supposed to be labouring so that he will not have to carry heavy load in the future. Lam. 3: 27 says that it is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. However, a lot of young people want stress-free achievement. There is nothing substantial that is stress-free in life. In fact, it is good to be under pressure and stress while young so that you will enjoy your life later. Everyone knows that going to school is stressful but if you don't and there is nothing to fall back to later in life, then expect a greater type of stress. There is the pain of discipline and the pain of regrets. The pain of regret weighs tons more than the pain of discipline. It is when you take the pain to be disciplined now that you will not suffer the pain of failure and regrets in the future.

A fundamental principle of success is the law of delayed gratification. It is the law of sowing now so that you can reap in the future. This involves using your money, effort, time and resources in such a way that you can have a better life in the future. It means you undergo the difficulty now so that you can have it easier in the future. So if you cannot buy expensive wears now because you are buying books, getting certificates or building a business, you are indeed wise as you are sowing for a great harvest. There are people who spend all they have today as if there is no tomorrow. Don't enjoy today to the detriment of tomorrow; it is better to make sacrifices today so that you can reap benefits tomorrow.

Some people never invest for tomorrow and they claim that tomorrow will take care of itself. They think it is an act of faith to eat everything today and leave tomorrow to chance. Faith has never stood alone; faith walks with wisdom and it thrives by working. Investing for tomorrow includes being diligent, building capacity, making sacrifices and sowing seeds today so that they will give credence to your faith. It is good that you believe God for a good tomorrow but we must see the seeds you are sowing today which will bring the harvest of a good tomorrow. It is when we see the seeds of sacrifice today that we will know that you will surely reap the harvest of a glorious tomorrow. 

Prayer/Action
* Ask God for grace to put your flesh under control as the price for a great tomorrow.
* Pray that the pains of sacrifice to God will yield you mighty joy and harvest.
* Pray that Satan will not win the battle against your harvest.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Today, as November prepares to close, I receive grace like Elijah to overtake anyone who has gone ahead since the year of shining light began, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Rightside Up

Tuesday 28 November
READ: Luke 19:1-9    
MORE LESSON:  Phil. 3:9

Being born again is not just about going to church or being baptized. It is an experience. There is this story of a man who tried to grow spiritually before he was born again; he was born into a pagan family but grew up going to church. He went to a secondary school where he served as a leader in many Christian organizations, which made him believe that he was a Christian. But after it became very clear that he was not saved, he started drinking and doing many terrible things openly and without shame until he became very miserable.

Then one day as he was singing, he became convicted by the words of the songs. He knelt down, confessed his sins, then God began to change his life, and he got the assurance that he was truly saved. He immediately joined a group for Bible study, and started to learn more about the new life in Christ Jesus. He also began to share with others what Christ has done in his life.

Being saved or born again is not a theory or a story but a life changing experience. Confession without change is false. Have you seen any changes in your life? What are they? If none, then confess your sins afresh, ask for pardon, and the joy of salvation will bubble in your heart. Thereafter, a new life in Christ Jesus will begin immediately in you.
That is the right order of walking with God and not the other way round. Apostle Paul got it wrong early in life. He was religious but not born again:

Circumcised the eighth day, of the  stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal,  persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless: Phil. 3:5-6. He was not born again until he met Jesus on the road to Damascus (Act. 9: 1-8).
In contrast, Zacchaeus’ case was a different order; he came as a sinner to see Jesus. Then he had got an encounter, confessed his sins and received Jesus into his home and life. Please crosscheck today. Are you are religious or saved?

Prayer/Action
* Father, give me a new life, in Jesus' name.
* I receive the right spirit to serve God today, in the mighty name of Jesus.
* Dear Lord, reveal yourself to me in all that I do, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
I proclaim that the season of famine is over; I release my rain in abundance now, in the name of Jesus.